St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-16
THE ARMY.
Gen. Sheridan Files His Report
The Indian Question,

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Lieut. Gen.
Z. ii. Sheridan has presented his annual
report to the secretary of war. From
the report it appears that at the date Of
the last consolidated returns the army
consisted of 2.200 officers and a. .2236
men, including Indian scouts. The
lieutenant general briefly sums up the
condition of the various divisions of the
army. and of the divisions of the Mis-
souri,, says that while it has been free
from Indian hOStilitieS of any magni-
tude, many operations of a minor ma
ture have been rendered necessary
Troops have been continually occupied
in patrolling the Oklahoma country and
have been successful in keeping intrud-
erS out of that region. The gradual
spread of railroads throughout the ter
ritory. can, however, ultimately have
but one effect, and Gen. Sheridan is
now of opinion that congress may well
consider the adviSability of opening up
portions at least of this country to set
tlement. The general reviews the
difficulties arising in August last in
Colorado near the UncOmpahgre Indian
reservation. and their determination
through the interceSSiOn of Lieut.. Bur-
nett with small detachment of the
Ninth cavalry. He also touches upon
Crow Indian reservation in Montana
and its settlement by Gen. Ruger. In
order TO quiet the restless young men
among the Crow Indians, the report
says, Gen. Ruger has been authorized
to enlist about thirty of their number as
scouts and take them to Fort Custer.
The Crows
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRIENDLY
and make il a boast that they have
never killed white man, and it would
be great pity if anything should now
occur TO disturb the peaceful relations
of So long a standing, and Gen. Sheri-
dan is confident that Gen. Ruger will
be able to effect permanent settlement
that will be satisfactory to the Crows as
we'll as to the government. In regard
to the concentration of the army in the
larger posts, the report says that the
work on the new post at Denver, where
ii is proposed to place ten cOmpa-
that at San Antonio has been
progressing favOrably during the
year: the ground for the new post near
Chicago will pass into the possession of
the government at an early day: and at
Fort Smelling both the reservation and
other attendant conditions are favor
able for the establishment of large
garrison, and only some additional
buildings are required for their accom-
mediation. The reconstruction of Fort
Riley has been actively prosecuted dur
ing the year. but before it can be com
pleJed additional appropriations will be
necessary. Mo other post in the coun-
try possesses such advantages for the
location of a school of practice for light
batteries and for cavalry exercises, and
s.in, IL II,
poses has been authorized by congress,
ii has been deemed but true economy 10
erect only buildings of a substantial
and permanent nature, SO that with the
new equipment of breech-loading steel
field guns, metal carriages and improved
harness. now being manufac-
tuTed by the ordnance depart
ment, the service will probably
derive marked benefit from this station
for a number of years. Gen. Sheridan
does not look favOrably uDon the prOpO-
sitiOn of Gen. Miles to separate the In
dianS now at San Carlos into several
camps about 100 or 200 miles apart.
! deeming it for the best interests of the
territory of Arizona and of the Indians
themselves that they should be kept i'm
ore body and the duties necessary for
their control concentrated at a single
point. Divided into different bands, he
says. each location might become the
center of disturbances. and the difficult
Iies of their supervision would be
greatly increased.
TIE GENERAL EXPRESSES REGRET
at the fact of slight increase in the